Kendrapada, Nov 07 (UNI) Twelve fishermen were arrested by the forest officials for illegally entering the restricted zone inside Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary of Bhitarkanika National park for fishing.

The officials also seized two fishing vessels used by the fishermen yesterday for illegally fishing despite a ban imposed on fishing inside the sanctuary.

Fishing inside the Gahirnath sanctuary had been banned from November 1 to May 31 next to protect the nesting of the endangered Olive Ridley turtles.

All the arrested fishermen were the inhabitants of Balesore and Kendrapara districts.

They were produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class court of Pattamundai and SDJM court of Kendrapara under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which remanded them to jail custody.

Forest officials described the seizure of the fishing vessels and arrest of 12 fishermen as the first case after the ban on fishing was clamped on November one last.

Last year the forest officials had seized about 60 vessels and arrested nearly 110 people on the charge of illegally fishing in the prohibited zone under Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary during the ban period.

UNI XC DP SJC/SRC1900